Clark: Senate needs business experience

ASHEVILLE – Republican R.L. Clark wants to bring the view of a small-business owner to the state Senate. He’s running in the Senate District 49 primary against two other Republicans.

The winner faces Democrat Terry Van Duyn in the fall. The Buncombe County Democratic Party elected her to fill the unexpired term of the late Sen. Martin Nesbitt and stand as the party’s candidate in the general election.

“I continue to see a need for a business person to serve Buncombe County,” he said.

Clark, 83, ran a retail business for 27 years and worked for five North Carolina governors.

As a business owner, he says he’s employed people, met payroll and contended with what he called “unbelievable rules and regulations by local, state and federal government.”

Clark, 83, was born to sharecroppers in Madison County. His mother died when he was 14 and the family had to work hard for clothes and food.

He’s been active in the county for many years. He remembers being part of the Lions Club when 400 people would gather for meetings downtown to help the blind and visually handicapped.

He said he would like to see more neighbors taking care of neighbors instead of relying on government.

“Government has taken over the roll of the volunteer organizations primarily,” he said.

R.L. Clark

Age: 83

Occupation: Does odd jobs. He operated retail businesses for 27 years and spent another 20 years working for five North Carolina governors.